ABOUT US

VIPBG MISSION

The Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics
is established to facilitate the development of a
multidisciplinary, integrated research program in the
Genetic Epidemiology of Psychiatric Illness and Human Behavior and Development
in the Departments of Psychiatry and Human Genetics at the Medical College of
Virginia of Virginia Commonwealth University.

Part of the fascination of psychiatric and behavioral genetics lies in the
fact that almost all facets of the expression of genes and environment are
relevant to the understanding of the etiology and developmental trajectory
of psychiatric disorders and behavioral phenotypes. A wide variety of
epigenetic factors intervene to modify the expression of genes in normal
and abnormal behavior including the different genetic and social contexts
associated with gender and ethnic differences, variation in the family and
individual environment and the inherent changes which occur during
development and aging. Current problems in behavior and psychiatric
genetics range from characterizing specific susceptibility loci at the
molecular level to exploring the role of latent genetic and environmental
factors in the onset and course of behavioral phenotypes and psychiatric
disorders. Such a multi-level understanding of the role of genes and
environment in psychiatric illness and behavior requires a
multidisciplinary approach which integrates the diverse methods and
insights of biometrical and mendelian genetics, genetic epidemiology,
clinical psychology and psychiatry, and molecular biology/ human gene
mapping.

HISTORY OF VIPBG

The Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics was established in 1996.

This research program of the
Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics
is formed from two closely
inter-related research groups who have worked together for more than a decade.

The first of these, the Psychiatric Genetics Research Program (PGRP),
is directed by Kenneth S. Kendler, and is in the
Department of Psychiatry in
the School of Medicine
at Virginia Commonwealth University.
PGRP faculty include
Ananda Amstadter,
Silviu Bacanu,
Scott Bowers
Sam Chen,
Danielle Dick,
Ayman Fanous,
Nathan Gillespie,
Jack Hettema,
Shawn Latendresse,
Michael C. Neale,
Brien P. Riley,
Roxanne Roberson-Nay,
Vladimir Vladimirov, and
Todd Webb.

The second of these groups, headed by Lindon J. Eaves, the
Genetic Epidemiology Research Group (GERG), is in the
Department of Human Genetics, which is also in
the School of Medicine
at VCU.
GERG faculty include
Hermine H. Maes,
Judy L. Silberg, and
Tim York.